In honor of Black History Month, we proudly celebrate and highlight the remarkable contributions of Black students, faculty and alumni who are an integral part of the Millsaps College community. Today we turn the spotlight on Dr. Albert Mosley, class of 1995.
Going to college can be overwhelming. Moving to a new city, living on your own and finding community can be daunting. That was certainly true for Millsaps alumnus Dr. Albert Mosley. “I was a first-generation college kid,” Mosley said. “I knew I wanted to go to college, but I just didn’t have a concept of what that would look like for me.”
Home Away from Home
When he arrived at Millsaps in 1991 from Shuqualak, Mississippi, it wasn’t just the academic offerings that drew him in. The supportive, close-knit community made him feel at home. He said, “Coming to Millsaps was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Initially considering becoming a physician, Mosley knew Millsaps would prepare him for a future in healthcare. Boasting an acceptance rate twice the national average, Millsaps produces the best and brightest graduates, ready for the challenge of medical school.
But Mosley found something more valuable than a medical school acceptance letter. He discovered the freedom to explore interests that would open new doors of possibility.
“It was a very welcoming environment. I knew it was the type of place I could thrive,” he recalls. “I grew up in poverty. Nobody in my family had gone to college, but when I got to campus, I felt like I could succeed there. There were people who were genuinely interested in my success.”
People like Dean of Financial Aid Jack Woodward.
Personal Connections
At the end of Mosley’s first semester, he was preparing to go home for winter break, plodding through campus, worried about paying for his education and fearful that he couldn’t return in the spring.
Woodward saw him and knew something wasn’t right. Mosley explained his situation and Woodward – on the spot – assisted in finding him a scholarship to ensure he could continue his studies. That meant more than Mosley could express in words.
With his spot at Millsaps secured, he wrestled with the idea of medical school, unsure if it was the right path for him. At the encouragement of Millsaps Chaplain Don Fortenberry, Mosley reflected on his purpose in life.
“He got every single one of us to seriously and critically reflect on our lives and the paths we were going to take,” Mosley said. “I realized I only wanted to become a medical doctor because I thought it was the best way to get out of poverty.”
After graduating with a biology degree, he didn’t find himself in medical school. Instead, he pursued graduate studies at Duke Divinity School.
“When I got to Duke, I felt so prepared. I became a great writer because of Millsaps,” he said. “I know that I was way more prepared than a lot of my classmates and that’s the result of my Millsaps experience.”
Homecoming
After completing advanced degrees at Yale University and the University of Georgia, Mosley’s path circled back to Mississippi. He returned to Millsaps to teach religious studies and pastor at Galloway United Methodist Church, living out his dream of serving the academy and the church.
Mosley interviewing Mississippi native Robin Roberts.
Mosley continued climbing the ladder of higher education, holding positions at Duke and Johns Hopkins University before becoming the president of Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.
Leading the Way
Under his leadership, the university has implemented enrollment initiatives to support first-generation students and low-income families, launched an aviation program, added other new majors and completed some major infrastructure projects.
“As a university president, I want to help people and bring about change,” he said. “This is an opportunity for me to pay forward to this generation of students the kindness and care people like Jack Woodward showed me at Millsaps.”
Mosley sees Millsaps woven into each step of his journey. “There is no argument that can refute that Millsaps creates great leaders. You get a breadth of intellectual skills that allow you to function successfully in any environment,” he explained.
A place that provides not just an education, but a launching pad for a life filled with purpose and impact – that’s Millsaps.
“Millsaps changed the trajectory of my life. No question whatsoever. I really don’t know what I would be doing now had I not gone there,” he said. “For me, everything started at Millsaps.”